Sri Ramakrishna’s entire life demonstrated one theme ‘Religion is realization of God’. The goal of being born as a human gets fulfilled only when one is able to realize God -- feel God, see God, and talk to God. It is possible only for humans. Therefore, human life is considered special, precious. We have to sense God to be convinced that there is a God. Otherwise, this human birth is considered to have gone waste.
When Narendra (later Swami Vivekananda) asked Sri Ramakrishna whether he has seen God, he replied, “Yes, I see God as I am seeing you, only a lot more clearly.”
The next question is ‘How to achieve that?’ “Can you cry for God vision? People shed jugs of tears for family, children, wealth, etc. But who wants God?” was his answer.
For God realization, one has to develop an intense longing to see God. It will not happen overnight. It has to be cultivated, nurtured.
What are the obstacles in the path of a person seeking God realization? ‘Lust and greed’, says Sri Ramakrishna. As long as one craves for material gains and sexual pleasures, one cannot realize God. Although it may not be possible to get rid of them overnight, one should start restraining oneself from material and sexual pleasures as much as possible, and start spending more time thinking and meditating on God. Here is an anecdote from the life of Swami Subodananda, affectionately known as ‘Koka Maharaj’ as he was the youngest (probably 16 or 17 years old when he renounced his wealthy parents and chose to become a monk) disciple of Sri Ramakrishna. The following incident happened when Swami Subodhananda was practicing austerities in Haridwar.
He was suffering from fever for two months. One day he was too weak and could not lift even the water pot to drink some water to quench his thirst. When he went near the pot, he fell unconscious. When he regained his consciousness, he was overwhelmed by self-pity and cried: “Master, I am suffering terribly. There is none to look after me. You didn’t give sufficient strength even to drink a glass of water by myself.” Thinking thus, he fell asleep. Then he saw [in a dream or vision] the Master [Sri Ramakrishna] stroking his body with his hand and he said, “Why are you anxious? Don’t you see I am always near you? What do you want – attendants or money?” Swami Subodhananda replied, “I want neither of those things. I can’t avoid disease as long as I have a body. May I never forget you: that’s all I want. Be with me wherever I go.”
Early in the morning, he heard a voice from outside, “Swami, please open the door.” When he opened the door, he saw a young monk who told him, “Please tell me what you need. I shall beg food for you.” Swami Subodhananda told him, “I don’t need anything.” When he enquired how the monk knew about him, the monk said that he had arrived there a few days before to perform a religious rite at Brahmakunda. The previous night, Mother Durga appeared in his dream and said, “You will get more virtue by serving that sick monk in the cottage than by performing this religious rite.” So, early in the morning, he went to the cottage and understood that his dream was true. Tears trickled from the eyes of Swami Subodhananda. He controlled his emotions and told the monk to leave him as he preferred to live alone.
On the same day, another monk received fifty rupees by money order. He came to Swami Subodhananda and said, “”You are suffering from fever. You need food and medicine. Please use this money.” The swami declined his offer. Early next day morning the young monk came to the swami again and told him that Mother Durga appeared in his dream again and exhorted him to serve the swami. The swami told him politely that he really did not need any service and perhaps Mother Durga wanted the monk to serve someone else. The young monk left. Then Swami Subodhananda prayed earnestly to Sri Ramakrishna, “Please don’t tempt me anymore. I am glad that you crushed my pique.” The young monk came on the third day also but never again.
Reading the above anecdote in the book God Lived With Them by Swami Chetanananda made me wonder “What an amazing level of renunciation Swami Subodhananda had?”
“I will not ask for money, or servants. I will not even ask for good health since as long as a body exists there is scope for illness. Please ensure that I will never forget your name. Be with me always” This is what Swami Subodhananda asked. He has shown us the way. It is not easy to be all-sacrificing as he was. But if we can try to emulate even a percentage of that renunciation, we will soon realize the power and kindness of God.
